CBSE Class 10 First Flight Chapter 21: The Tale of Custard the Dragon - NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by · Updated on

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

This section provides detailed NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 21, 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon'. It covers all questions from the 'Thinking about the poem' section, helping students understand the characters like Belinda, Ink, Blink, Mustard, and Custard, along with their pet names and personalities. The solutions delve into why Custard is called a 'cowardly dragon', the use of poetic devices such as similes and repetition, and the imagery employed by the poet to create vivid pictures. Students will also explore the poem's rhyme scheme and analyze whether it's a serious or light-hearted piece. These solutions offer clear explanations and step-by-step reasoning, aiding students in grasping the nuances of the poem and preparing effectively for their exams.

Home

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 10
SubjectFirst Flight
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 21

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' (Class 10 First Flight, Chapter 21) offer a deep dive into the poem's narrative and literary elements. The solutions address questions about character identification, Custard's perceived cowardice, the use of poetic devices like similes and repetition, and the poem's imagery. They also guide students in identifying the rhyme scheme and analyzing the poem's tone. This resource is designed to help students comprehend the poem's humor and underlying messages.

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and list all characters and their pet names from 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon'.
  • Explain the reasons behind Custard's 'cowardly' behavior and the poet's portrayal.
  • Recognize and provide examples of poetic devices like similes and repetition used in the poem.
  • Analyze the imagery employed by the poet to create vivid descriptions.
  • Determine the rhyme scheme of the poem.
  • Evaluate whether the poem is serious or light-hearted, providing supporting reasons.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Character analysis (Belinda, Custard, pets)
  • Poetic devices (simile, repetition)
  • Imagery in poetry
  • Rhyme scheme analysis
  • Poem's tone (light-hearted vs. serious)
  • Interpretation of character traits (bravery vs. cowardice)

Important topics

  • Characterization of Custard
  • Identification of Poetic Devices
  • Analysis of Imagery
  • Understanding the Poem's Tone
  • Rhyme Scheme Determination

PDF preview

Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.

Loading document …
Page of
Loading page …

Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names.
Solution: The characters featured in this poem are Belinda, who is a young girl, and her various pets. These pets include a little black kitten named Ink, a little grey mouse named Blink, a little yellow dog named Mustard, and a dragon named Custard. Additionally, a pirate appears as a significant character later in the narrative.

Question 2

Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is the dragon called "cowardly dragon"?
Solution: Custard cried for a nice safe cage because he was inherently timid and easily frightened by potential dangers. He is referred to as the "cowardly dragon" in contrast to the other characters. Belinda is described as being as brave as a barrel full of bears, while her pets Ink and Blink are capable of chasing lions, and Mustard the dog is as fierce as an angry tiger. Custard, being the only one who consistently shows fear and seeks security, earns the label of 'cowardly'.

Question 3

"Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful..." Why?
Solution: Belinda tickled Custard 'unmercifully' because it was a way to tease him and highlight his sensitive and fearful nature. Tickling often elicits a strong reaction from those who are easily disturbed or ticklish. In Custard's case, being tickled so intensely made him uncomfortable and perhaps even made him cry, which served to amuse Belinda and the others, further emphasizing his perceived cowardice.

Question 4

The poet has employed many poetic devices in the poem. For example "Clashed his tail like iron in a dungeon" – the poetic device here is a simile. Can you, with your partner, list some more such poetic devices used in the poem?
Solution: The poem "The Tale of Custard the Dragon" utilizes several poetic devices. Besides the example given, here are a few more:
  1. Simile: The comparison of Custard's mouth to a fireplace is a simile: "And mouth like a fireplace".
  2. Repetition: The word 'little' is repeated frequently in the first stanza to describe the kitten, mouse, and dog (e.g., "a little black kitten", "a little grey mouse", "a little yellow dog"), emphasizing their small size.
  3. Metaphor: While not explicitly asked for, phrases like "chimney for a nose" could be seen as metaphorical descriptions.

Question 5

Read stanza three again to know how the poet describes the appearance of the dragon.
Solution: Stanza three describes the dragon's appearance in detail. He has scales that are described as being red, and his snout is compared to a chimney. His eyes are depicted as being like fiery embers, and he has sharp, pointed claws on his feet and toes. His tail is described as being like iron, clashing like a weapon.

Question 6

Can you find out the rhyme scheme of two or three stanzas of the poem?
Solution: The rhyme scheme of most stanzas in "The Tale of Custard the Dragon" is 'aabb'. For example, in the first stanza, 'Belinda' rhymes with 'find her', and 'around' rhymes with 'sound'. In the second stanza, 'cage' rhymes with 'rage', and 'mouse' rhymes with 'house'. This consistent 'aabb' pattern contributes to the poem's musicality and light-hearted feel.

Question 7

Writers use words to give us a picture or image without actually saying what they mean. Can you trace some images used in the poem?
Solution: The poet uses vivid imagery to create strong mental pictures for the reader. Some examples include:
  • "mouth like a fireplace": This simile vividly portrays the dragon's fiery breath and large mouth.
  • "chimney for a nose": This image suggests the dragon's snout shape and perhaps the smoke that might come from it.
  • "Clashed his tail like iron in a dungeon": This simile emphasizes the hardness and potentially dangerous sound of the dragon's tail.
  • "brave as a barrel full of bears": This exaggerated simile paints a picture of immense, almost overwhelming bravery for Belinda.
  • "brave as a tiger in a rage": This simile highlights the fierce and aggressive nature attributed to Mustard the dog.
These images help the reader visualize the characters and their traits more effectively.

Question 8

Do you find 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' to be a serious or a light-hearted poem? Give reasons to support your answer.
Solution: "The Tale of Custard the Dragon" is best described as a light-hearted and humorous poem. Several factors contribute to this tone:
  • Rhyme Scheme and Rhythm: The consistent 'aabb' rhyme scheme and rhythmic structure make the poem sound playful and easy to recite, akin to a nursery rhyme.
  • Exaggerated Comparisons: The descriptions of bravery are highly exaggerated (e.g., "brave as a barrel full of bears"), which adds to the humor.
  • Irony: The central irony lies in the dragon, the most physically imposing creature, being the most cowardly, while the smaller pets are depicted as exceptionally brave. This subversion of expectations is humorous.
  • Character Portrayals: The characters themselves, especially the contrast between Custard's fear and the others' bravado, are presented in a comical manner. Even the pirate is eventually dealt with in a way that highlights the absurdity.
  • Language: The use of simple, accessible language and playful descriptions contributes to the poem's overall light tone.
These elements combine to create a poem that is enjoyable and amusing rather than deeply serious or tragic.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the bravery of other pets with Custard's genuine fear.
  • Overlooking the humorous intent behind the exaggerated comparisons.
  • Failing to identify specific examples of poetic devices when asked.
  • Misinterpreting the 'tickling' incident as purely malicious rather than a demonstration of Custard's sensitivity.

Revision tips

  • Read the poem aloud to appreciate its rhythm and rhyme scheme.
  • Create a table listing each character, their described bravery, and Custard's contrasting fear.
  • Underline examples of similes and other poetic devices as you reread the poem.
  • Discuss with classmates why the poem is considered light-hearted despite the dragon's fear.
  • Focus on the contrast between the characters' self-perceived bravery and their actual reactions during the pirate's attack (though not explicitly detailed in these Q&As, it's a key poem element).

Practice MCQs

Q1. Which of the following is NOT a pet of Belinda mentioned in the poem?

Q2. What is the primary reason Custard is called a 'cowardly dragon'?

Q3. The phrase 'mouth like a fireplace' is an example of which poetic device?

Q4. What does the repetition of the word 'little' in the first stanza emphasize?

Q5. Why does Belinda tickle Custard 'unmerciful'?

Frequently asked questions

Who are the main characters in 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon'?

The main characters are Belinda, a little girl, and her pets: a black kitten named Ink, a grey mouse named Blink, a yellow dog named Mustard, and a dragon named Custard. A pirate also appears later in the poem.

Why is Custard considered a 'cowardly dragon'?

Custard is called cowardly because he is easily frightened and often cries for a safe cage, unlike his companions who are described as very brave.

What is a simile, and can you give an example from the poem?

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'. An example from the poem is 'mouth like a fireplace'.

What is the rhyme scheme of 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon'?

The rhyme scheme of the poem is predominantly 'aabb', meaning the first two lines of each stanza rhyme, and the next two lines rhyme with each other.

Is 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' a serious poem?

No, the poem is generally considered light-hearted and humorous due to its playful language, exaggerated comparisons, and the ironic portrayal of bravery and cowardice.

How does the poem use imagery?

The poem uses vivid imagery, such as 'mouth like a fireplace' and 'chimney for a nose', to create strong mental pictures of the dragon and its features.

Important links

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.